Cardboard box



March31,1942. J. H. MCGRATH 2,277,773

CARDBOARD BOX Filed July 22, 1940 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 31,1942 orifice CARDBOARD BOX John H. McGrath, Seattle, Wash. ApplicationJuly 22, 1940, Serial No. 346,685

8 Claims.

This invention relates to the .making of boxes, or containers, fromcardboard, or from any similar flexible material that is adapted to becut, scored, glued and shaped as hereinafter described. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to the making of heart-shaped boxes.

It is the principal object of this invention to expedite the manufacture-and to reduce the cost of making heart-shaped boxes from cardboard, orsimilar material by the provision of a novel manner of cutting, forming,assembling and uniting the parts thereof.

More speclcally stated. the objects of the present invention reside inthe provision from cardboard, of a heart-shaped box body, comprising abottom forming section that is of heart shape, and side wall formingsections integral therewith; these parts being die-cut from a fiat blankof material, and so scored, or creased, as to provide accurate and easybending of the side wall forming portions to upright position forshaping to the configuration or curvature of the edges of the bottomsection and for a secure and eiective' connection therewith whereby toretain the box. body in shape for its intended uses.

It is a further object of 'this invention to provide a box body, asabove stated, wherein the side wall forming portions are equipped at thelower edges of their free ends with integral tabs, and the bottomforming section is formed with recesses, opening to the edge thereof atsuch locationand so designed as to receive the said tabs of the wallsections therein in interlocked holding connections that insure thepermanency of the wall structure.

Still further objects of the present invention reside in the combinationof a container or box body, formed in the m-anner above stated, with abase member that is designed to strengthen asY well as to enhance theappearance of the box by the provision of a projecting ange about theside Walls.

It is a stm further Object of the invention to provide a box bodystructure that can be made either manually or mechanically, with aminimum number of operations. l

Other objects of the inventionv reside in the various 'details ofconstruction and combination of parts, as will hereinafter be fullydescribed.-

In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I haveprovided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms ofwhich are illustrated in the accompanying drawthey would appear whendie-cut from a at sheet of material preparatory to being shaped andjoined together.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the box body with side Walls folded upwardlyand shaped to the curvature of the bottomsection and interlockedtherewith, also showing the box body applied to a base section thatprovides the projecting flange.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the iiange forming base piece.

Fig, 4 is a perspective view of the present box body structure asassembled upon the flange forming base section.

Fig. 5 is a vertical cross section of the box as seen on line 5-5 inFig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the interior of the box bodyparticularly illustrating the connection of the ends of the wall formingstrips.

Explanatory to the present invention, it will here be stated that boxesand containers of the present kind are intended to comprise a bottomportion and a cover portion.V However, since both of these parts wouldbe identical in construction with the exception that the cover sectionwould be made slightly larger in order that it may t telescopicallyoverthe bottom section, I have, in the following, described only themanner of constructing a bottom portion, with the understanding thatthis description would apply equally to the formation of the coverportion.

It will be mentioned also that I make no broad claim to the use of theflange base except in combination with the present box body structure,since it is a common practice in the art to use such a piece. However,to myknowledge it is the general practice to provide thewall formingmembers with edge tabs for glued. connection with the bas'e ange, thento overlie the tabs vwhen glued in place, with a false bottom insertthat is fitted into the box body. To my knowledge, no box body hasheretofore been made from a one-piece, heart shaped bottom section, andside wall sections that are integral. therewith in their originalblanked out form and adapted to be shaped without deviation, to thecurvature of the edges of the bottomand secured functionally theretothrough the mediacy of interlocking parts that insure the stability ofthe structure.

Referring more in detail to thedrawing- The bottom section of thepresent box body is designated by reference numeral I0 and this sectionhas a shape that is generally-designated as heart-shaped, as will beunderstood by reference to Fig. 1. The opposite side Wall formingportions designed for completion of the heart- 'shaped box body aredesignated, respectively, by

reference numerals Hand I2, and are shown asbeing in the form ofstraight,vnarrow strips of' material extending from the point end of thesection Il! in angular divergence at opposite sides scoring 2 I.

of the latter. Itis 'a feature o! this invention that these strips IIand I2 are integral with the bottom section Ill. and are disposed atopposite sides of that portion of the bottom section that is immediatelyadjacent the point, and which is designated at I3 inFlg. 1.

It is intended, especially in the mechanical production of these boxes.that a die shall be used to stamp, or cut out the entire bottom wallsection I0, including its component side wall forming .portions II andI2, from one blank or sheet of material, and that the formation of theseparts, ready for assembly, shall whenever practical be effected in asingle operation. Furthermore, it is intended that suitable means shallbe provided whereby, in the same operation, certain parts shall bescored, or creased at predetermined places to facilitate the subsequentfolding and interconnection of parts. Also, that by the same operation,the wall forming strips II and I2 shall be equipped with the previouslymentioned securing tabs and the bottom section shall be notched orrecessed to receive vthe tabs.

In order that the side wall sections II and I2 may be folded upwardlyperpendicular with reference to the bottom section I0, substantiallystraight lines of scoring as at Il and I4' are formed, extending fromthe extreme point of the heart-shaped piece I to the opposite sides ofthe section, merging into the curved opposite side edges I5 and I5 ofthe section IIJ. By reason of these lines of scoring being straight, thestrips Il and I2 may be folded along these lines to a perpendicularposition relative to the base I0 without warpingand the free ends maythen be easily bent laterally to conform to the curvature of the sideedges I5 and I5' of the piece, and about the substantially circularlycurved top edges of the opposite lobes of the heart-shaped piece. Bycutting these strips II and I2 to an exact length, they may be broughttogether at the convergence of the curved edges I5 and I 5' within thevertex of the recess formed between the two lobes of the heart-shapedbody.

By reference more particularly to Fig. l, it

will be observed that the side wall forming strip tions of'the wallforming strips II and I2 as applied about the curved portion at thetopo! the heart-shaped section Il, I have provided dove-tailed recesses3l and 3l' in the latter, opening to the ltop .edgesof the two lobes ofthe heartshaped piece, and have formed the strips II and I2 withintegral dove-tailed tabs 3| and 3|' extended at such position as to betted in these recesses. The tabs are set oi! by lines of scoring 32which provide for their being bent at right angles with reference to thewall strips for pressing into the recesses. There is also a similardove-tailed tab 33 near the end of the strip I2, and this is arranged toseat in a recess 34 adjacent the vertex of the recess between the lobesof the heart-shaped body, thus to securely g2g accurately maintain theheart shape of the It will here be stated that, while the presentdrawing shows the strips II and I2 equipped with one and two tabs,respectively, the number to be used could be increased in accordancewith the size of the box or to take care of any special requirement, andthat they could be -located at close intervals, and made larger orsmaller as conditions of use required.

The base. or what may be termed the flange section on which the box bodyis finally fixed. is designated at 35 and is symmetrical in shape to thesection I0, but somewhat larger, as understood by reference to Figs. 2and 3, so that when these parts are assembled, the edges of the piece 35will project somewhat beyond the body to form the flange 35', as will beunderstood best by reference to Fig. 2. The piece 35 would pref-A erablybe die-cut, and made from cardboard.

Assuming that the blank for the box body is cut out in the form as shownin Fig. i, either by mechanical means or by hand, the box body II has asquare cut end edge IB even with the e point of the heart shaped body,and it will further be seen by reference to Fig. 2, that the length ofthe strip II is such that when shaped to the corresponding edge I5 ofthe body I0, its free end will terminate in the vertex of the recessformed by the two lobes of the heart-shaped body at the top thereof, asit is shown in Fig. 1. Also, it will be noted by reference to Fig. 1that the opposite side Wall forming strip I2 has an extended tab I'I atone end set of! by a line of scoring I3 perpendicular to the side edgeof the strip and intersecting the point of the heart, and at the otherend of this strip,'is a similarly extending tab 2D. set off by atransverse line of These two tabs. I1 and 20, are adapted, when the sidewall forming strips are in upright position, to be bent laterally andbrought into `close overlapping relationship with the ends of theopposite wall forming strip, as noted in Fig. 2, for securement thereto,to retain the upright position of the Walls. Also, it is shown in Fig. 1that the top edge of the body piece I0 is recessed, as a 25, to seat thelower edge of tab therein and thus allow the close fitting of the loweredge of the strip II-with the corresponding edge of the piece I0.

In order to insure a close tting joint and a secure holding connectionbetween the end p0rwould then be formed therefrom as follows:

First, those surfaces of the wall tabs II and 20 at the ends of stripI2, which are to be the bottom surfaces in the finished box. andlikewise the bottom surfaces of the dove-tailed tabs 3l, 3|' and 33,which are integral with the strips II and I2, as well as the bottom sideperipheral areas adjacent the edge of the body I0, would be stenciledwith a suitable glue. Then the dove-tailed tabs of the strips II and I2would be bent laterally at right angles to the strips, and the stripsformed to the curved edges I5 and I5' of the heart-shaped bottom, andthe free ends brought together in the vertex of the recess at the top ofthe heart-shaped section I0 with the tab 20 lapping the inner surface ofthe adjacent end portion of the strip II. Likewise,.the tab I1 at thepoint end of the body will be overlapped with the Inner face of thestrip II; these parts being pressed together to cause the glue to adhereand hold the side walls of the box body in upright position. Then thedovetaiied tabs 3I-3I' and 33 of the two strips II and I2, are seated intheir respective notches 30, and 34, in the section III and the ,boxbody as thus formed, would be placedsymmet rically upon the base sectionand the parts pressed together to cause the glued surfaces to securethem in the relative positions shown in Figs. 2 and 4; it beingunderstood that the glue on the bottom edge areas of the part IIi and onthedove-tailed tabs, will effect the luniting of these parts.

With the box body thus formed, it may be decorated in various ways tosuit any particular use. A cover section, likewise made, vbut of andadapted for registration and securement vin such dimensions 'as totelescope therewith, may be applied.

The present mode oi' construction has many advantages over the ordinarytypes. First, the entire box bodyblank, including bottom and side wallportions may be die-cut in a single operation. Second, the mode ofassembly of the component side walls with the bottom eiiects a secureand substantially rigid connection that adds to the utility and life ofthe box. Third, the box body may be easily applied to the iiange baseyand a secure connection made in a simple and economical manner.

Boxes of this kind maybe made in various sizes, and in diierentproportions from that shown without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and it will beunderstood that detalls the recesses oi thebottom section.

5. A one-piece blank for a box body, Comprising a bottom section ofheart-shaped contour, formed at intervals with dovetailed recesses,opening tov the edge thereof, and opposite side wall forming strips ofrectangular form, extendingin angular divergence from the point of thebottom forming section at opposite sides thereof; each strip having alength corresponding to the peripheral distance from the point to thecenter of the Vertex oi' the depression that is opposite the'point, and'provided at intervals along their inner edges with of construction; forexample. in the shape, number and location of tabs, might likewise bevaried to some extent with the size or capacity oi boxes.

Therefore, it is not intended that the claims shall be limited todetails, but that they shall be given an interpretation that iscommensurate with the invention disclosed.

Having thus ldescribed my invention, what I claim as new therein anddesire to secure by Letters Patent ist 1. A one-piece blank for a boxbody, comprising a bottom forming section of heart-shaped contour andoppositeside wall forming strips of rectangular form extending inangular divergence from the point of said bottom forming section and atopposite sides thereof; said strips being integral with that portion oithe bottom section immediately adjacent the point and scoredrespectively along lines converging at the point of the bottom sectionand alined with the inner longitudinal edges of the strips for upwardbendingof the strips at right angles to the plane of the bottom sectionand for their shaping to the contour of the bottom section.

2. A one-piece blank, as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said sidewall forming strips is equipped vat its free end with an extending tabadapted to be folded and overlapped with the corresponding end of theopposite strip for `securement thereto.

3. A one-piece blank as recited in Vclaim 1,

.wherein said side wall forming strips have lengths equal respectivelyto the corresponding peripheral distances from the point of theheart-shaped bottom section to the point ol convergence of the saidedges, and one of said strips has tabs extended beyond` its ends adaptedto be folded. to overlap the end portions of the opposite strip forsecurement thereto.

4. A one-piece blank for a box body comprising a bottom forming sectionof heart-shaped contour, formed at intervals along its edges withrecesses, and opposite side wail forming strips of rectangular formextending in angular divergence from the extreme point of the bottomsection at extended tabs of dovetailed form; said strips being integralwith the bottom section adjacent its point and scored respectively alonglines convergingfat the point oi the bottom section and alined with theinner longitudinal edges of the strips for the upward bending of thestrim and for their shaping into conformity with the peripheral edge ofthe bottom; said dovetallec'itabs being scored along lines alined withthe inner edges o the strips and adapted to loe-bent at lright angle tothe side walls and to be lnterlocked in the dovetailed recesses, andthere being tabs at the ends' of one strip adapted to be bent into.overlapped relationship with 'the end portions of the other strip forsecurement thereto.

6. A box body of the character described comprising a ilat bottomsection of heart-shaped contour, and opposite side wall portionsextending from the point to the angle of the heart; said side wallportions being integral with the bottom section for a short distanceleading from the point of the heart, and with their lower edge portionsengaged flatly with the edge of thebottom about the opposite sides andto the ngle of the heart;

said "bottom section having a dove-tailed recess djacent the heartopening to the edge thereof angle and the side wall po having a bottomedge tab fitte an interlocked connection and having an extending end taboverlapped with and united with the ends of the opposite wall formingportion.

'7. A box body as recited in claim 6 wherein the bottom section isrecessed at its edge adjacent'the on for that side angle of the heart toseat the lower edge portion opposite ,sides oi the bottom. and .providedvat strips and for their shaping to the peripheraldgsof'thebottom.sgtion: said tabs being scored i'or bending to rightangles to the'.

of the end tab whereby the portions are united.

8. A box oi' the character'described comprising a bottom section ofheart-shaped contour and opposite side wall portions extending from the.ends of the two .wall

point to the angle of the heart: said bottom section being formed atintervals along its edges with dovetailed recesses and said side wallpory tions being integral with-the bottom section for a 1 short distancefrom the point of the heart and shaped to the contour oi' the edges ofthe bottomv section, and being provided at their lower edges withintegral, laterally turned tabs interlocked in the dovetailed recesses:one of said side wall portions havlng extended tabs at its endsoverlapped with and adhesively secured to the ends of the opposite wallportion, and a flange base oi'- heartshaped contour of larger dimensionsthan the base section. applied atly to the under side of .the bottomsection and adhesively secured thereto and to the 'tabs of the side wallsections to4 secure the parts functionally together: said ilange baseextending symmetrically beyond the bottom section of the body. JOHN H.MCGRATH.

in said vrecess in

